Local & Community
Supervisors Approve Final Budget to Cover Costs of Next Week's Election
RIVERSIDE (CNS) - The Board of Supervisors today approved a final
budget of $14.55 million to cover all expenses that the Riverside County Office
of the Registrar of Voters may incur for staffing, transportation of ballots
and other necessities tied to next week's General Election.
In a 5-0 vote without comment Tuesday, the board authorized the
allocations, roughly 84% of which will be drawn from the General Fund, with the
remainder coming from a state distribution stemming from legislation signed
into law by the governor in June to aid counties in paying for additional
temporary election workers.
``The funding is necessary to allow the registrar to have the
appropriate resources to successfully conduct the Nov. 3 General Election,''
according to an agency statement posted to the board's agenda.
When the board approved the county's 2026-27 fiscal year budget in
June, the supervisors were informed that election expenses were not completely
factored into the spending plan, but that Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco would
be returning later for additional outlays.
Tinoco last week submitted the funding request for the election, based
on estimated costs. It's possible there will be overhanging expenses in the
post-election period, stemming from unknown variables, including delayed ballot
processing, recount requests and litigation.
Any further funding needs by the agency would have to be addressed by
the board.
According to the Office of the Registrar of Voters, the current
funding will pay for about 2,500 workers, including around 160 temporary
employees added to the county payrolls specifically to support election-related
functions.
The money will also be disbursed for ``the secure transport of
equipment to vote centers, materials and supplies to support the operation of
both secure ballot drop-off sites and vote centers, on-site security personnel
and other related election activities,'' the registrar stated.
Last weekend, the first 21 vote centers opened, enabling registered
voters to stop by and submit their ballots electronically via Dominion
touchscreen units, fill out paper ballots on-site and leave them with Office of
the Registrar of Voters personnel, or simply drop their completed vote-by-mail
ballots.
An additional 131 vote centers are slated to open Saturday countywide.
Since the start of October, more than 100 ``secure drop box''
locations where voters can leave their ballots for pickup by registrar staff,
rather than mailing them, have been available, according to agency.
Ballots must be received or postmarked no later than Nov. 3 in order
to be counted, according to the California Secretary of State's Office.
There are 1.43 million registered voters in the county. According to
the registrar, the participation rate in the June primary was 38%.
Further details are available at voteinfo.net/.
By: City News Service
October 28, 2026
City News ServiceRiverside CountyGeneral ElectionBudget
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